United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1993-10-20 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:T-RCED-94-53 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-53 P0b002ee18038f66f f:trc94053 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-53 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-53 T-RCED-94-53 Transportation safety Aircraft Human resources utilization Safety standards Human resources training Safety regulation Commercial aviation Technology transfer Regulatory agencies Aircraft industry MD-11 Aircraft FAA Aircraft Production Certification Program Testimony RCED The aviation industry has witnessed rapid advances in aircraft technology since the 1980s, and the future holds the promise for even more changes, such as electronic systems that will sense the environment and control the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be challenged to certify these technologies and ensure the safety of the flying public. A 1980 National Academy of Sciences study found that the competency of FAA certification staff lagged far behind that of engineers in the industry they regulated. Since 1980, FAA has not provided its staff with the guidance, expert assistance, and training needed to boost the staff's competence. Although FAA has tried to beef up its training program and reduce its high staff turnover, GAO testified that FAA will need to do more. Specifically, FAA must (1) better define its role in the process, (2) improve its use of in-house experts, (3) establish specific training requirements, and (4) keep its training as current as possible. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-53/html/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-53.htm GAO/T-RCED-94-53 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-53 Testimony GAO/T-RCED-94-53; Aircraft Certification: FAA Can Better Meet Challenges Posed by Advances in Aircraft Technologies; Transportation safety Aircraft Human resources utilization Safety standards Human resources training Safety regulation Commercial aviation Technology transfer Regulatory agencies Aircraft industry MD-11 Aircraft FAA Aircraft Production Certification Program